They’d received no response from ringing the bell which appeared broken, and now Lottie was banging on Carol O’Grady’s door.

Boyd’s eye was beginning to yellow and bruise as a result of the whack he’d taken.

The door opened.

‘Terry?’ The young man’s eyes were sunk in his head. Was he drunk, or high? At this hour of the day?

‘Who wants to know?’

‘I met you the other day. DI Lottie Parker and DS Boyd. Do you remember?’

‘Nah.’

‘We want to speak with Carol.’

‘She’s at work. Ma and Da are in town.’

‘I think she’s here.’ Lottie ducked under the teenager’s arm.

‘You can’t do that,’ Terry and Boyd said together.

‘I just did.’ Lottie stood at the foot of the stairs and shouted up. ‘Carol. I want to have a word.’

Footsteps sounded on the landing and Carol appeared. ‘What’s with all the hammering? I’m trying to sleep.’

Lottie beckoned the young woman down the stairs. ‘Would you put the kettle on, Terry?’

‘I’m going out.’ He bundled past Boyd and down the path.

‘You might need a coat,’ Lottie shouted after him.

‘Fuck the coat.’

Lottie and Boyd followed Carol into the sitting room.

‘How are you feeling?’

‘Sick as a dog. Had to leave work early.’

‘Pregnancy can do that, you know.’

‘Shh. Keep your voice down.’ Carol swung her head in the direction of the door leading to the kitchen.

‘Don’t worry. Terry said your parents are in town.’

‘What does he know? He’s been drinking down the tracks since last night.’

‘We want to ask you about Mollie Hunter.’ Lottie had had enough of time-wasting for one day.

Carol crossed her arms and tugged at the elbows of her sweater. She pursed her lips tightly shut.

‘You know her, don’t you?’

‘I suppose.’

‘No suppose about it. Care to tell us?’

‘Not really.’

‘I haven’t got all day, Carol. I know you’re sick, but I’ll drag your arse down to the station and put you in a puke-smelling cell and you can vomit your guts up all night. It doesn’t really bother me. So tell me.’

‘She … she was nice to me.’

‘For God’s sake. Why did we find an item of your underwear in a plastic bag in Mollie Hunter’s flat?’

‘What?’

‘We fast-tracked a sample of DNA. Your DNA is a match.’

‘Match for what? How did you have my DNA?’

‘You were arrested with Terry three years ago. Possession of cannabis.’

‘The charge was dropped.’

‘It was, but your DNA is on file.’

Carol appeared to shrivel up. She sniffed back tears and looked as though she might be sick.

‘Tell me,’ Lottie said.

‘I was raped. There. Now I’ve said it.’ She pulled tighter on her sleeves.

Lottie turned to Boyd. He shrugged. They hadn’t considered this scenario at all.

‘Tell me, please, Carol.’ She spoke more gently.

‘It happened near her place. She came along. She was all right, so she was, even though I didn’t know her. She found me in a heap on the side of the lane that runs down between two blocks of flats. She brought me into her home. Wanted to call the guards. But I was in shock. Didn’t know what I was doing or saying. I must’ve said not to call anyone.’ She sniffed and rubbed the back of her hand beneath her nose.

Lottie widened her eyes at Boyd.

‘Who did it, Carol? When?’

‘Oh, for Christ’s sake. It doesn’t matter now. It was over two months ago.’

‘Did you recognise him? Someone you knew?’

‘I … I’m not sure. I thought he seemed familiar. His voice was gruff, angry. I think he was drunk. I don’t know.’

‘And the thong. Why had Mollie got it?’

‘She took my clothes that night. I was wet and grubby. I was a mess. She said she had a friend in the guards. I got hysterical and said I wanted no guards. She told me if I changed my mind I could talk to this friend. I made her promise not to tell anyone. I don’t think she did but she must’ve kept my clothes for evidence or something. I honestly don’t know.’ Carol curled into herself, gulping back huge sobs.

Lottie eased back into the armchair, realising she had been coiled, ready to spring forward.

‘This man … this excuse for a man who did this to you, is he the father of the child you’re carrying?’

Carol shrugged. ‘I’m not sure.’

‘Were you in a relationship with someone else at the time?’

A nod.

‘Who?’

She shook her head. ‘Not saying.’

‘Who else knows about the attack?’

‘No one.’

‘Did Elizabeth know?’

Carol bit her lip, tears coursing down her cheeks. ‘Yeah. I told Lizzie.’

‘So, two young women who knew that you’d been raped. One is dead – murdered – and the other is missing, quite possibly also murdered. And you didn’t think it important enough to tell us? Jesus Christ, where are your brains?’

Lottie felt Boyd touch her arm, restraining her. She let his hand rest. He was right. She was angry with the girl for withholding information, but she was suffering enough. Dear God, she thought for what seemed like the tenth time that day, what a mess.

‘You have to report this, Carol.’

‘No, I don’t. It was just an accident. He didn’t mean it. He’s a good man.’

‘What do you mean?’ Lottie reached out and grabbed Carol’s hand as the truth dawned on her. ‘It is someone you know.’

‘I didn’t say that. Stop putting words in my mouth.’

‘I’m sorry. I have to advise you to do the right thing.’

‘I’m telling no one. End of. You can go now, before my parents get home.’

Thinking over the girl’s words, Lottie said, ‘Have you been threatened? By this man?’

Another sniff and a shake of her head.

‘Is he married?’

A shrug of shoulders. ‘I’m not saying.’

‘Are you still in a relationship with him?’

‘He thinks so.’

‘Does he know you’re pregnant?’

‘No.’ Her eyes, the pupils deep black, glared with terror. ‘Don’t say a word about any of this. Please. I’m begging you.’

Lottie sighed. ‘I’m so sorry this happened to you, Carol, but people will notice you’re pregnant eventually.’

‘I’m not ready to tell anyone else. The only two people who knew about the rape are … are …’ She pulled her legs beneath her and lay in a foetal position on the couch, weeping.

‘Give me your brother’s number. I’ll get him to come back and sit with you.’

‘No!’ Carol let out a strangled cry. ‘Just go. Please. Leave me alone.’

‘I’ll have to make a report on this, you know that.’ Lottie felt sorry for the girl, but she knew she had to do her job too. ‘When you’re ready, come to the station. There will be trained people available to talk to you. In the meantime, I’ll get a liaison officer to stay with you.’

‘No fucking way.’

‘It’s for your own safety. Now give me Terry’s number.’